19th Century French Louis XV Ebonized Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bombé Marble-Top Chest

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19th Century French Louis XV Ebonized Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bombé Marble-Top Chest
A dramatic late 19th-century French Louis XV Revival chest, … Read more 19th Century French Louis XV Ebonized Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bombé Marble-Top Chest
A dramatic late 19th-century French Louis XV Revival chest, circa 1880–1900, combining a sculptural bombé silhouette with a striking ebonized finish, dark marble top and an unusually lavish collection of gilt-bronze mounts.
The shaped case features a divided upper drawer above two broad drawers, their gently swelling fronts emphasizing the classic Louis XV bombé profile. Each is fitted with elaborate gilt-bronze handles and decorative escutcheons incorporating scrolling foliate and rocaille ornament.
Especially striking are the large figural gilt-bronze mounts descending from the upper corners, modeled with female masks above elaborate scrolling foliate decoration. Additional gilt-bronze ornament enriches the shaped apron and feet, creating a particularly dramatic contrast against the deep black ebonized cabinetry.
A substantial dark marble top follows the shaped outline of the case and completes the richly theatrical composition.
French furniture makers of the late 19th century enthusiastically revived the great cabinetmaking traditions of 18th-century France, producing sophisticated interpretations of Louis XV furniture for the international luxury market. This chest captures that exuberant revival aesthetic particularly well—the curvaceous Rococo form rendered with the darker, more dramatic decorative sensibility fashionable during the late 19th century.
An exceptionally photogenic statement chest, equally effective in a traditional French interior or as a dramatic counterpoint in a contemporary room. See less